CMA CGM launches second India-Middle East-Africa service

May 23, 2017: CMA CGM has launched second Midas container service, which will connect India and the Middle East with Southern and Western Africa through the Indian Ocean. The container carrier offers its customers a new service to Africa, which will reduce the transit time and will give new ports of call to accompany its classic Midas service.

The CMA CGM continues developing its service in fast economic developing Indian region and the countries of Africa, trying to benefit from the economic growth of the two regions. The Midas 1 and Midas 2 services will be operated with two partners, through a VSA (Vessel Sharing Agreement) that will allow the deploying of 16 ships on 21 ports of call on both services.

The Midas 1 service will connect West Africa Range South and Center with India and the Middle East. Two calls in South Africa were inserted on the way back in order to offer the Reefer customers among the fastest transit times to the Middle East. This service will include 10 vessels of 4,250 TEUs with over 600 plugs for reefers on a 70-day rotation.

The Midas 2 service will connect South Africa with India and the Middle East in a shortened 42-day rotation. Six container ships with a capacity of 2,500 TEUs will be deployed on these loops. A Northbound and a Southbound calls are planned at Pointe des Galets in La Reunion.

Bertrand Simion, director for Africa Lines of CMA CGM, said, "The duplication of the Midas service allows us to improve our service offering with competitive transit times and a greater capacity as well as the access to new markets between South Africa and the Indian Ocean."

CMA CGM is a French container transportation and shipping company. It is the third largest container company in the world, using 170 shipping routes between 400 ports in 150 different countries.